Friday, February 12, 2010

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied, a Hasanah will be multiplied to ten its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said: ‘Except fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desires and his food for my sake.’ The fasting person will have two moments of joy: Joy when he breaks his fast, and joy when he meets his Lord. And indeed the smell of his mouth is better to Allah than the fragrance of musk.” [The Book of Fasting: Sahih Muslim]

The act of fasting is so beloved to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) that the reward He has reserved for it is beyond telling. Normal good deeds are rewarded ten to seven hundred times, but Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) just leaves us to guess how much more it is that He will reward us for fasting for His sake!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Narrated Muawiya: I heard the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saying, "A group of people amongst my followers will remain obedient to Allah's orders and they will not be harmed by anyone who will not help them or who will oppose them, till Allah's Order (the Last Day) comes upon them while they are still on the right path." [Bukhari]

These are really good tidings for us, that no matter what the enemies of Islam try, they will never be able to annihilate Islam. There will always, till the Day of Judgment, be Muslims who are rightly guided and rightly guiding. Congratulations to such people, for Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) promises that nobody will be able to harm them.

Regarding the qualities of these people who are fully obedient to Allah's shariah, Yahya ibn Mu'adh (rahimu Allah) said: "Congratulations to those who leave the world before it deserts them; to those who build their graves before they enter them; and to those who please their Lord before they meet Him."

Ahmad bin Bindar narrated that Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) cried during his last illness, and when asked about it said, "Surely I am not crying being attached to your world, but rather for the long journey awaiting me, and the little provisions I have prepared for it. This morning, I am descending upon either paradise, or hell, and I have no idea towards which of the two I will be taken!" Abu Hurairah is a primary cause of Islam reaching us. Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) was the famous Companion of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) who reported 5374 ahadith. He would divide his nights into three parts. In one third of the night he would perform salaah, in one third he would sleep and in one third he would memorize the ahadith of the Holy Prophet. If Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu), the narrator of the greatest number of ahadith, worried so much about his hereafter, how much more cause do I have to worry about it!

Friday, January 8, 2010

On the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "My paternal uncle Anas bin al Nadir was absent from the battle of Badr, and he said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I was absent from the first battle in which you fought the polytheists but if Allah provides me with a second opportunity to participate in a battle with the polytheists, then Allah will witness my actions!’ And when the Day of Uhud arrived and the Muslims retreated, he said: ‘O Allah, I ask you to forgive my brothers for their actions and I excuse myself from the actions of the polytheists!’ Then he rushed forward and met Sad bin Muadh and said: ‘O Sad bin Muadh, by Allah I smell its (Jannat's) scent from below Uhud!’ Sad said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I could not do what he did.’ Anas said: ‘We found him with some eighty wounds either from swords, spears or arrows. We found him murdered and mutilated by the polytheists. No one recognised him except his sister, and even she recognised him by his fingers.’ Anas said: ‘We used to think, or suppose, that this verse came down concerning him and people like him: ‘Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah..’ up to the end of the verse (Surat al-Ahzaab, ayah 23).’ [Bukhari)

The covenant with Allah was that we would give our lives and wealth in exchange for eternity in Jannat. No being gets this gift except those humans who recognize their Lord and are true to their bargain. A worthy bargain indeed.